Iran To Close Hormuz If Threatened

Local Editor

Iranian armed forces chief of staff, General Hassan Firouzabadi, stressed late Friday that "the Islamic Republic has plans to close the Strait of Hormuz at the entrance to the oil-rich Gulf but only if its interests are seriously threatened."

In an interview with ISNA news agency, the top military commander confirmed that "in Iran we have plans to close the Strait of Hormuz because military commanders must have plans for any situation."
"But Iran, acting rationally, will not close the corridor through which 40 percent of the world's energy passes, unless its interests are in serious trouble," he said.

Several commanders and officials have vowed that Iran reserves as an option closing the strait -- a strategic oil choke point -- if its nuclear program is targeted by military strikes.
"What my colleagues say regarding (the closing of the strait) echo missions assigned to them," Firouzabadi told the Khorasan daily.

But, he explained, "the order to carry out the mission will only come from a decision by the Supreme National Security Council and approved by Supreme Leader His Eminence Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei."

Firouzabadi said statements by military commanders would not impact the decision whether to close the passage of oil through the Strait of Hormuz.


Source: ISNA, Edited by moqawama.org